Historical information about the development and use of medium tanks PzKpfw III. Workplaces of the crew of the Pz.III tank What a German tank looks like sew on 02 03

The Panzerkampfwagen III is a German medium tank of the Second World War, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator of military equipment of Nazi Germany, this tank had the designation Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - Special Purpose Vehicle 141). In Soviet historical documents and popular literature, the PzKpfw III was referred to as "Type 3", T-III or T-3.

Trophy tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the Soviet 107th separate tank battalion. Volkhov Front, April 1942.

These combat vehicles were used by the Wehrmacht from the first day of World War II. The latest records of the combat use of the PzKpfw III in the regular composition of the Wehrmacht units date back to the middle of 1944, single tanks fought until the surrender of Germany. From mid-1941 to early 1943, the PzKpfw III was the basis of the armored forces of the Wehrmacht (Panzerwaffe) and, despite the relative weakness compared to the tanks of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, made a significant contribution to the successes of the Wehrmacht of that period. Tanks of this type were supplied to the armies of Germany's Axis allies. Captured PzKpfw IIIs were used by the Red Army and the Allies with good results. On the basis of the PzKpfw III in Germany and the USSR, self-propelled artillery installations (ACS) for various purposes were created.

German soldiers around a medium tank Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J stuck in the mud with tail number 201 from the 17th Panzer Division (17.Pz.Div.) of the Wehrmacht. Eastern front. A flag is fixed on the roof of the tower for identification by its aviation.

History of creation and production

Zugfuhrerwagen

Although Germany, which was defeated in the First World War, under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty was forbidden to have armored troops, work on the creation of armored vehicles had been carried out in it since 1925. The first tank eventually launched was the light tank PzKpfw I, then known under the code designation "small tractor", (German: Kleintraktor), which had been under development since 1930. At the same time, the shortcomings of the PzKpfw I, which had a crew of two, machine gun armament and bulletproof armor, were obvious even at the design stage, so the need to develop heavier tanks was soon formulated by the Reichswehr Arms Department. According to Krupp documents for 1933, the Ordnance Department planned the creation of two tanks - slightly larger than the PzKpfw I and armed with a 20-mm cannon, the future PzKpfw II, the development of which was entrusted to the Daimler-Benz company and armed with a 37-mm cannon and having a weight of about 10 tons of a tank, the contract for the development of which was planned to be received by Krupp. The final decision to start the development of these two machines was made after the January 11, 1934 meeting of the leadership of the Armaments Directorate to determine priority programs in the face of lack of funding. Formal permission to start work on the tank (German: Gefechtskampfwagen) was issued to the Office of the Inspection of the Armored Forces on January 27 of the same year.

German tank Pz.Kpfw. III from the 24th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht (24. Panzer-Division), shot down near Stalingrad

In February 1934, the Ordnance Department organized a competition for the development of a new tank, which received the code designation "platoon commander's tank" (German: Zugführerwagen) or Z.W. After researching the possibilities of various companies, four companies were invited to participate in the competition: Daimler-Benz, Krupp, M.A.N. and Rheinmetall. Technical requirements for the tank included:

- weight about 10 tons;
- armament from a 37-mm cannon in a rotating turret;
— maximum speed not less than 40 km/h;
- the use of an HL 100 engine with a power of 300 liters. With. manufactured by Maybach, SSG 75 transmission from Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, Wilson-Cletrac type turning mechanism and Kgs.65/326/100 tracks.

After studying the preliminary designs submitted by Daimler-Benz, M.A.N. and "Rheinmetall", the Office of Arms in the summer of 1934 issued orders for the production of prototypes:

- "Daimler-Benz" - two prototype chassis;
— M.A.N. - one chassis prototype;
- "Krupp" - two prototypes of the tower;
- "Rheinmetall" - one prototype of the tower.

Based on the results of testing prototypes, the Daimler-Benz chassis was chosen, the first copy of which was assembled in August 1935. In addition to the first chassis, designated Z.W.1 and Z.W.2, Daimler-Benz received a contract to build two more improved prototypes, the Z.W.3 and Z.W.4. Two prototype Krupp turrets were completed as early as August 1934, but they were finally selected only after comparative tests with Rheinmetall turrets on chassis prototypes.

Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. A, B, C and D

An order for the production of a "zero series" of 25 tanks intended for military trials was issued by the Ordnance Department in December 1935, while the release of the first tanks was scheduled for October 1936 in order to transfer all 25 vehicles to the troops by April 1, 1937 of the year. By that time, the designation of the tank had changed several times, until the order of April 3, 1936 was established in the final version - Panzerkampfwagen III.

The contract for the production of the first pre-production batch (1.Serie / Z.W.) of 10 vehicles was issued to Daimler-Benz, while Krupp was supposed to supply turrets for tanks. In addition to them, a number of other companies were involved in the production, producing individual units and components of the tank. So, armored hulls and armored turrets were manufactured by Deutsche Edelstalwerke, a number of other companies supplied optical instruments and components of the power plant and chassis. The ten machines of this series, which later received the designation Ausführung A (Ausf. A - “model A”), were the development of the design of the prototype Z.W.1. A characteristic feature of this modification was the undercarriage, with five large-diameter road wheels with individual suspension on vertical springs and two support rollers on each side. Mass Ausf. A was 15 tons, while the maximum speed was below the requirements of the customer and amounted to only 35 km / h. Daimler-Benz planned to complete the assembly of two chassis by November 1936, but in reality the start of production of the Ausf. A dragged on until 1937. The exact dates of production of vehicles of this modification are unknown, but their approximate period is known - between May 1, 1937, when, according to reports, not a single tank was accepted yet, and October 1 of the same year, when 12 PzKpfw IIIs were already in service.

German tank landing on the T-III tank, 1941.

The second order, issued by Daimler-Benz and Krupp, provided for the production of a second pre-production batch (2.Serie / Z.W.) of 15 cars, which was the development of the Z.W.3 prototype and received the designation Ausf. B. From Ausf. And they were distinguished primarily by the chassis, which had 8 small-diameter road wheels on each side, interlocked in pairs into bogies, suspended on two groups of leaf springs and equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. In addition, a number of minor changes were made to the design of the tank. Five chassis Ausf. B were redirected for the production of the zero series Sturmgeschütz III self-propelled guns, so that as tanks, according to the German documentation, only 10 of them were completed, although many sources nevertheless speak of 15 produced tanks of this modification. After testing, all 5 machines of the zero series Sturmgeschütz III were used for training purposes until 1941. The production of tanks of this modification began after the completion of work on vehicles from the Ausf. A, and the last Ausf. B were delivered to the troops by the end of November - beginning of December 1937.

An order for a third pre-production batch of PzKpfw III (3.Serie/Z.W.) of 40 tanks was also issued by Daimler-Benz and Krupp, and a number of both former and new subcontractors were involved in the production for individual units and components of the tank. 3.Serie/Z.W. included two batches - 3a.Serie/Z.W. of 15 cars and 3b.Serie/Z.W. of the 25 vehicles designated, respectively, Ausf. C and Ausf. D. Structurally Ausf. C differed from the Ausf. First of all, a modified suspension, 8 rollers of which from each side were now arranged into three carts - two outer rollers and an average of four rollers, still suspended on leaf springs, and the outer carts were also on shock absorbers. In addition, the units of the power plant were improved, primarily the turning mechanism and final drives. Ausf production. C was conducted from mid-1937 to January 1938.

German tank PzKpfw III Ausf. H

The last pre-production modification of the PzKpfw III was the Ausf. D. Tanks of this modification were distinguished by a modified rear part of the hull and a commander's cupola of a new design, as well as changes in the power plant and suspension elements. Many features of the Ausf. D, for example, the design of the stern, subsequently switched to serial machines. Regarding the reservation of tanks of this modification, the opinions of historians differ. The traditional version is about 30-mm vertical armor Ausf. D, as on the tanks of the first serial modifications, according to various sources, all, or all except for the first 5 vehicles, Ausf. D. However, this version is disputed by historian T. Jentz, who points out that these data, like many others, come from British intelligence reports written during the Second World War and shortly after it, and are only erroneous assumptions. Yenz himself, based on German documents of that period, claims that the armor of all Ausf. D remained unchanged compared to previous modifications, and only the new commander's cupola had 30 mm armor. Ausf production. D began in January 1938, just after the completion of the Ausf. C. According to German documents, a report for 1 July 1938 listed 56 Ausf. A - Ausf. D, but, according to historians, the last Ausf. D were issued as early as June or July 1938. The initial order for Ausf. D amounted to 25 vehicles, however, due to the fact that 5 chassis Ausf. B were previously allocated for the construction of self-propelled guns, the upper parts of the hull and turret already made for them remained unclaimed, and the Arms Department ordered Daimler-Benz to manufacture 5 additional chassis in 3b.Serie / Z.W. (No. 60221-60225). However, by that time, the production of subsequent series of PzKpfw IIIs was already a priority, so the assembly of these five vehicles, referred to in some documents as 3c.Serie / Z.W., took place only in October 1940. It was these 5 tanks, which entered the 40th Special Purpose Tank Battalion in Norway, that took part in the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in northern Finland. In total, thus, 30 tanks of the Ausf modification were manufactured. D, although some sources give figures of 29 or even 50 cars.

German tank Pz.Kpfw. III, knocked out and overturned on the Eastern Front.

Production

Modifications

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 Panzerkampfwagen III tanks of versions F, G and H were converted for movement under water and were to be used when landing on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15 m; fresh air was supplied by a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - a “snorkel”. Since the landing in England did not take place, a number of such tanks from the 18th Panzer Division on June 22, 1941 crossed the Western Bug along the bottom.
Most of the 600 tanks of the F and G versions built before the end of 41 were armed with a new 50 mm cannon and, accordingly, could withstand the T-34 armor (sides) at distances of less than 500 meters. And partially KV (bottom of the forehead of the body).

Tauchpanzer III

Design

The PzKpfw III had a layout with the engine compartment in the rear, the transmission compartment in the front, and the control and fighting compartment in the middle of the tank. The crew of the PzKpfw III consisted of five people: a driver and gunner-radio operator, who were in the control department, and a commander, gunner and loader, located in a three-man turret.

Armament

The armor-piercing effect of armor-piercing shells was far from always effective since the projectile was badly damaged, sub-caliber ones generally have an unpredictable armor effect. This further reduces the effectiveness of the fire. Given the caliber, these factors were of sufficient importance (the caliber of the level of a hand-held offensive (light) grenade). On the other hand, in a closed space and a dense layout, any action causes damage. By the end of the war, with an increase in calibers, the effect of shells on armor reached a destructive effect (IS-2, after a series of hits without penetration, lost the strength of the hull and began to fall apart, under the influence of its larger-caliber shells, the German armor that had become fragile was destroyed even from the first hit in large volumes (turret shift with a shoulder strap of 20 cm or more)).

Means of observation and communication

All PzKpfw III tanks were equipped with a FuG 5 radio located above the gearbox, to the left of the gunner-radio operator. Range - 6.4 km by telephone and 9.4 km by telegraph. Internal communication between the crew members was carried out with the help of TPU and a light signal device.

Red Army soldiers inspect German tanks Pz. Kfpw. III, shot down near Mogilev. The vehicles were hit by units of the 388th Infantry Regiment.

Engine and transmission

All modifications were equipped with Maybach twelve-cylinder gasoline carburetor engines. Modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - HL108TR engine with a volume of 10.8 liters, a power of 250 hp. Modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.N - HL120TR engine with a volume of 11.9 liters, a power of 300-320 hp. Structurally, the second motor was a development of the first; motors differed in cylinder diameter and compression ratio.

Gearboxes: modifications Ausf.A-Ausf.D - six-speed (+5; -1); modifications Ausf.E-Ausf.G - fourteen-speed (+10; -4); modifications Ausf.H-Ausf.N - seven-speed (+6; -1). The fourteen-speed Ausf.E-Ausf.G modifications were a rare type of the so-called shaftless preselective gearbox of the Maybach Variorex model.

The turning mechanism is single-speed planetary. It consisted of two identical differential gearboxes, one for its side, which performed a dual function - the function of the turning mechanism itself and the function of one of the main gear reduction stages. Each differential gearbox had its own swing brake. The steering mechanism is controlled by two levers, each of which is connected both to its own turning brake and to the stopping brake of its side. Group drive of stopping brakes - pedal.

The main gear had three reduction stages. The first stage consisted of a bevel gear reducer for transmitting torque from the gearbox to the common drive shaft of the turning mechanism. The second is from a pair of differential gears of the turning mechanism. The third is from a pair of onboard cylindrical gearboxes. The total gear ratio for different modifications is 7-9, depending on the motor and gearbox type.

Chassis of various modifications of the tank

Chassis

The undercarriage of the tank was distinguished by considerable diversity. Nevertheless, there were common features - the location of the drive wheels in front, and sloths in the back, which is traditional for German tank building, and the presence of supporting rollers. The track rollers were rubber-coated. Modifications (German "Ausfuehrung" or "Ausf.") differed in the number of rollers, their size, shock-absorbing structure. It should be noted that in the course of evolution three fundamentally different depreciation options were used.

ausf. A: the only modification with a spring suspension (one spring for each roller), two carrier rollers (three on all others), five larger diameter rollers.

ausf. B, C, D: eight downsized road wheels, leaf spring suspension. At Ausf. B two semi-elliptical springs rested on the ends of the rollers, interlocked in pairs, Ausf. C, D already had three springs, and the latter had the springs at an angle.

ausf. E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N: torsion bar suspension, six medium-sized road wheels. Modifications differed from each other, mainly in the size of the rollers and rubber bandage, the design and pattern of the drive wheel and sloth.

Flammpanzer III (Sd.Kfz. 141/3), Eastern Front 1943/1944.

Vehicles based on the Panzerkampfwagen III

On the basis of the linear PzKpfw III, specialized tanks and armored vehicles were built:

in Germany:

- Panzerbefehlswagen III - command tank;
- Flammpanzer III - flamethrower tank;
- Tauchpanzer III - underwater tank;
- Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III - artillery observation armored car (advanced artillery observers vehicle);
- Sturmgeschütz III - self-propelled guns;
- Sturmhaubitze 42 - self-propelled guns;
— Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33 Ausf.B;

in the USSR (based on captured tanks):

- SU-76i - self-propelled guns;
- SU-85i - self-propelled guns;
- SG-122 - self-propelled guns.

StuG III Ausf. G Finnish Panzer Division

Combat use

Invasion of the USSR

By the time of the invasion of the USSR, the PzKpfw III was the main weapon of the Wehrmacht tank units. On June 22, 1941, in the divisions sent to the USSR, there were about 1000 vehicles of this type, which ranged from 25 to 34% of the total number of tanks sent to the USSR.

As part of the tank battalion, PzKpfw III were part of light tank companies (three platoons of five tanks of this type, plus two of these tanks in the control platoon. There are two such companies in the tank battalion.). Thus, a typical Wehrmacht tank division during the invasion of the USSR with one two-battalion tank regiment had 71 combat PzKpfw III units plus 6 special commander units for command and control. In fact, the division into light and medium tank companies in 1941 was of a formal nature. From the end of 1940, the tank divisions were reorganized (instead of a two-regiment tank brigade, one regiment of two or three battalions remained in them) and the Pz III became the main vehicle of a light tank company (17 Pz III and 5 Pz II in each), and the average - Pz IV (12 Pz IV and 7 Pz II). Thus, each tank battalion had 34 Pz III tanks. Another 3 Pz III tanks were in the regiment command platoon. So a typical tank division (not equipped with Czech tanks) had from 71 to 105 Pz III tanks, depending on the number of tank battalions in the tank regiment.

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E

Main characteristics

Briefly

in detail

1.7 / 1.7 / 1.7 BR

5 people Crew

88% Visibility

forehead / side / stern Booking

30 / 30 / 20 cases

35 / 30 / 30 towers

Mobility

19.5 tons Weight

572 l/s 300 l/s Engine power

29 hp/t 15 hp/t specific

78 km/h ahead
13 km/h back70 km/h forward
11 km/h ago Speed

Armament

131 shells ammo

2.9 / 3.7 sec recharge

10° / 20° UVN

3,600 rounds of ammunition

8.0 / 10.4 sec recharge

150 rounds clip size

900 shots/min rate of fire

Economy

Description

Panzerkampfwagen III (3.7 cm) Ausführung E or Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E. - German medium tank of the Second World War, mass-produced from 1938 to 1943. The abbreviated names of this tank were PzKpfw III, Panzer III, Pz III. In the departmental rubricator of military equipment of Nazi Germany, this tank had the designation Sd.Kfz. 141 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 141 - Special Purpose Vehicle 141).

The PzKpfw III tank was generally a typical representative of the German school of tank building, but with some significant features inherent in other design concepts. Therefore, in terms of its design and layout solutions, on the one hand, it inherited the advantages and disadvantages of the classic “German type” layout, and on the other hand, it did not have some of its negative features. In particular, an individual torsion bar suspension with small-diameter road wheels was unusual for German vehicles, although it proved to be very good in production and operation. Later "Panthers" and "Tigers" had a less reliable in operation and repair and structurally more complex "chessboard" suspension, traditional for German tanks.

On the whole, the PzKpfw III was a reliable, easy-to-operate vehicle with a high level of crew comfort; its modernization potential for 1939-1942 was quite sufficient. On the other hand, despite the reliability and manufacturability, the overloaded undercarriage and the volume of the turret box, insufficient to accommodate a more powerful gun, did not allow it to stay in production longer than 1943, when all the reserves for turning a "light-medium" tank into a full-fledged medium were exhausted.

Main characteristics

Armor protection and survivability

Booking Pz.III E is not outstanding and does not have rational tilt angles. In view of this, to increase security, it is recommended to put the tank "diamond".

The crew of the tank is 5 people, which sometimes allows you to survive a direct hit on the turret, but penetration into the side or center of the hull with a chamber shell will lead to a one-shot. It is worth noting that the tank has a massive commander's turret, when shooting at it, an enemy tank has a chance to destroy all the crew members in the turret.

The location of the tank modules is good. The transmission in the front of the hull can withstand low-yield chamber shells.

The tank has a lot of ammo racks, and to increase survivability it is recommended to take no more than 30 shells with you.

The layout of the Pz.Kpfw modules. III Ausf. E

Mobility

Good mobility, high top speed and excellent turning on the spot. The tank rides well over rough terrain and holds its speed well, but the tank picks up speed very mediocrely.

Armament

main gun

Barrel length - 45 calibers. Elevation angles - from -10° to +20°. The rate of fire is 15-18 rounds / min, which is a very good indicator. Ammunition consists of 131 rounds.

The 3.7 cm KwK36 is a tank version of the 3.7 cm PaK35/36. KwK36 was installed on early modifications of the Pz.Kpfw. III from Ausf.A to some Ausf.F. Starting from the Aust.F series on the Pz.Kpfw. III began to put 5 cm KwK38.

The gun has the following nomenclature of shells:

• PzGr- armor-piercing chamber shells with a flight speed of up to 745 m / s. It has an average armor effect, however, the high rate of fire of the gun and excellent penetration of the projectile compensates for this. Recommended as the main projectile
• PzGr 40- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a flight speed of up to 1020 m / s. It has excellent penetration, but poor armor action. Recommended for point shots on heavily armored targets.

Machine gun armament

Two 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG-34 machine guns were paired with a 37 mm cannon. The third, the same, machine gun was installed in the frontal sheet of the hull. Machine gun ammunition consisted of 4425 rounds. It can be effective against vehicles that do not have any armor, such as Soviet GAZ trucks.

Use in combat

Classic german entry level tank. The combat rating of 1.7 is quite comfortable for this tank. There are no difficult opponents, it all depends on the ability to accurately shoot and drive in the right direction. A good weapon with a good rate of fire helps in every possible way in battle. Sub-caliber shells are available. Basically, the opponents are lightly armored and there are no special problems for the gun to break through them. If you are going to capture a point, it is best to choose the most direct section and, preferably, not turn, because at the slightest turn, precious speed is lost, which is gained not so quickly. The Pz.Kpfw has the same problem. III Ausf. F. If the battle takes place in realistic mode and the point was captured, then usually there are enough respawn points to take the aircraft. But regardless of the mode, it is better to continue the battle by retreating from the point. The enemy can use Art-Strike, and the armor will not save you from a close hit, and even more so a direct one. In addition, there are opponents who want to recapture the point.

• Also, using high speed, you can and should use flank bypasses with an approach to the rear of the enemy.

With a successful detour from the flank, or in another way, you should not immediately break into battle, shooting at everything that is visible. You need to choose the highest priority target. Firstly, these are singles or cars in the rearguard (closing). When firing, remember that the 37mm cannon has a very weak armor effect, so you need to deliver pinpoint strikes on vital modules.

For example, when meeting with a tank, you can shoot at the turret, thereby damaging the breech or knocking out the gunner (or maybe both options at once), which will give time to reload and deliver a second shot, preferably in the ammunition area or in the MTO (immobilize the enemy). If the enemy catches fire, we quickly look around in search of a second target, if there is no one, we finish off. Then we act according to the situation. If we meet with an enemy self-propelled gun, then the first module needs to knock out the engine, thereby making the self-propelled gun helpless and calmly finish it off. When attacking two opponents at once, the chances of winning are significantly reduced. But even here there are nuances. For example, if this is an SPG, then with the first shot we try to knock out the engine and only then open fire on the tank. Of course, this is just a scenario, and not a 100% rule. We carefully monitor the surroundings.

• Open combat (shootout) is not recommended since the frontal armor is only 30 mm and is penetrated by all opponents. Shrapnel is especially dangerous at close range. In fact, it provides death with one shot.

Tank ambush is a very common and familiar tactic. We choose any suitable, as you think, place for an ambush and wait for the enemy. It is desirable that the ambush site provides shooting at the enemy's side. In addition, an ambush must be arranged in places unexpected for the enemy, the main thing in an ambush is surprise, to take the enemy by surprise.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Good mobility.
• The small size of the tank.
• Good accuracy.
• rapid fire gun

Flaws:

• Slow turret traverse speed.
• Small firepower.
• Slow speed up

History reference

Modification PzKpfw III Ausf.E went into production in 1938. Until October 1939, 96 tanks of this type were built at the Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN factories. PzKpfw III Ausf.E became the first modification to go into a large series. A feature of the tank was a new torsion bar suspension designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

It consisted of six road wheels, three support rollers, driving and steering wheels. All road wheels were independently suspended on torsion bars. The armament of the tank remained the same - a 37 mm KwK35/36 L/46.5 cannon and three MG-34 machine guns. The thickness of the reservation was increased to 12 mm-30 mm.

The PzKpfw III Ausf.E tanks were equipped with the "Maybach" HL120TR engine with a power of 300 hp. and a 10-speed "Maybach Variorex" gearbox. The mass of the PzKpfw III Ausf.E tank reached 19.5 tons. From August 1940 to 1942, all Ausf.Es produced were re-equipped with a new 50-mm KwK38 L / 42 cannon. The gun was paired not with two, but with only one machine gun. The frontal armor of the hull and superstructure, as well as the aft armor plate, were reinforced with a 30-mm appliqué. Part of the Ausf.E tanks over time went through a rework to the Ausf.F standard. The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which reduced the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplified the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, prerequisites were created for increasing the dimensions of the fighting compartment. Characteristic for the hull of this tank, as, indeed, for all German tanks of that period, was the equal strength of the armor plates on all main planes and the abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred the convenience of access to the units to the strength of the hull. The transmission deserves a positive assessment, which was characterized by a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was provided by a “shaftless” gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servo mechanisms were used. The width of the track chains - 360 mm - was chosen mainly based on road traffic conditions, significantly limiting off-road patency. However, the latter in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations was quite difficult to find.

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In 1934, the Armament Service of the Army (Heereswaffenamt) issued an order for a combat vehicle with a 37-mm cannon, which received the designation ZB (Zugfuhrerwagen - company commander's vehicle). Of the four firms participating in the competition, only one - Daimler-Benz - received an order for the production of an experimental batch of 10 cars. In 1936, these tanks were transferred for military trials under the army designation Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.A (or Pz.IIIA). They clearly bore the stamp of the influence of W. Christie's designs - five large-diameter road wheels.

The second experimental batch of 12 Model B units had a completely different undercarriage with 8 small road wheels, reminiscent of the Pz.IV. On the next 15 experimental Ausf.C tanks, the undercarriage was similar, but the suspension was noticeably improved. It should be emphasized that all other combat characteristics on the mentioned modifications, in principle, remained unchanged.

This cannot be said about the tanks of the D series (50 units), the frontal and side armor of which was increased to 30 mm, while the mass of the tank reached 19.5 tons, and the pressure on the ground increased from 0.77 to 0.96 kg / cm2 .

In 1938, the factories of three companies at once - Daimler-Benz, Henschel and MAN - began production of the first mass modification - Ausf.E. 96 tanks of this model received a chassis with six rubber-coated road wheels and a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers, which was not subjected to significant changes in the future. The combat weight of the tank was 19.5 tons. The crew consisted of 5 people. This number of crew members, starting with the Pz.III, became standard on all subsequent German medium and heavy tanks. Thus, already from the mid-1930s, the Germans achieved a functional separation of duties of crew members. Their opponents came to this much later - only by 1943-1944.

The Pz.IIIE was armed with a 37 mm cannon with a barrel length of 46.5 calibers and three MG 34 machine guns (ammunition load 131 rounds and 4500 rounds). Maybach HL120TR 12-cylinder carbureted engine with 300 hp. at 3000 rpm allowed the tank to reach a maximum speed of 40 km/h on the highway; the cruising range at the same time was 165 km and 95 km on the ground.

The layout of the tank was traditional for the Germans - with a front-mounted transmission, which reduced the length and increased the height of the vehicle, simplified the design of control drives and their maintenance. In addition, prerequisites were created for increasing the dimensions of the fighting compartment. Characteristic for the hull of this tank, as, indeed, for all German tanks of that period, was the equal strength of the armor plates on all main planes and the abundance of hatches. Until the summer of 1943, the Germans preferred the convenience of access to the units to the strength of the hull.

The transmission deserves a positive assessment, which was characterized by a large number of gears in the gearbox with a small number of gears: one gear per gear. The rigidity of the box, in addition to the ribs in the crankcase, was provided by a “shaftless” gear mounting system. In order to facilitate control and increase the average speed of movement, equalizers and servo mechanisms were used.

Pz.III Ausf.D. Poland, September 1939. Theoretically, the driver and gunner-radio operator could use access hatches to the transmission units to get into the tank. However, it is quite obvious that in a combat situation it was almost impossible to do this.

The width of the track chains - 360 mm - was chosen mainly based on road traffic conditions, significantly limiting off-road patency. However, the latter in the conditions of the Western European theater of operations still had to be found.

The next modification was the Pz.IIIF (440 units produced), which had minor design improvements, including a new type of commander's cupola.

600 tanks of the G series received the 50-mm KwK 38 tank gun with a barrel length of 42 calibers, developed by Krupp in 1938, as the main armament. At the same time, the re-equipment of previously produced tanks of models E and F with a new artillery system began. The ammunition load of the new gun consisted of 99 rounds, 3750 rounds were intended for two MG 34 machine guns. After re-equipment, the mass of the tank increased to 20.3 tons.

The H variant received an improved turret, a new commander's cupola, and later - additional 30 mm frontal armor and a new 400 mm track. From October 1940 to April 1941, 310 Ausf.H tanks were produced.

Tanks Pz.III Ausf.G of the 5th tank regiment of the 5th light division before being sent to North Africa. 1941

Pz.III Ausf.J was protected by even thicker armor. Among the minor improvements, the most significant was the new type of machine gun mounting. The first 1549 Ausf.J tanks were still armed with a 50 mm KwK 38 cannon with a 42 caliber barrel. Beginning in January 1942, the new 50 mm KwK 39 cannon with a barrel length of 60 calibers began to be installed on Ausf.J tanks for the first time. Such guns received 1067 tanks of this modification.

Front-line experience forced us to move on to the next modification - L, in which the forehead of the hull and the forehead of the turret were protected by additional 20-mm armor plates. The tanks also received a modernized mask mount, which simultaneously acted as a counterweight to the 50-mm gun. The mass of the tank increased to 22.7 tons. From June to December 1942, 653 (according to other sources - 703) tanks of the L modification were manufactured.

Pz.III Ausf.J from the 6th tank regiment of the 3rd tank division. Eastern front, winter 1941.

On the M variant, a 1350-kg “eastern” caterpillar appeared. With it, the width of the car increased to 3266 mm. From March 1943, these tanks were produced with bulwarks - 5-mm steel sheets that protected the vehicle from HEAT shells. The initial order was 1,000 units, but the low effectiveness of 50-mm guns in the fight against Soviet tanks forced the Wehrmacht Army Armament Service to reduce the order to 250 vehicles. Another 165 already finished chassis were converted into StuGIII assault guns, and another 100 into Pz.III (Fl) flamethrower tanks.

The absence of tungsten in the Reich reduced the effectiveness of the long-barreled 50-mm cannon (its sub-caliber projectile with a tungsten core, which had an initial speed of 1190 m / s, pierced 94-mm armor at a distance of 500 m); therefore, it was decided to re-equip some of the tanks with a “short” 75-mm KwK 37 cannon with a barrel length of 24 calibers - to use them as assault ones. 450 vehicles of the L series were re-equipped, and later another 215 tanks of the M series. The frontal armor of the turrets on these vehicles was increased to 57 mm, while the mass of the turret was 2.45 tons. These tanks - Ausf.N - became the latest modification of the Pz.III, mass-produced.

In addition to combat, the so-called linear tanks, 5 types of command tanks were produced with a total number of 435 units. 262 tanks were converted into artillery fire control vehicles. A special order - 100 Pz.III Ausf.M with flamethrowers - was completed by Wegmann in Kassel. For a flamethrower with a range of up to 60 m, 1000 liters of fire mixture were required. The tanks were intended for Stalingrad, but they got to the front only at the beginning of July 1943 - near Kursk.

At the end of the summer of 1940, 168 F, G and H tanks were converted for underwater movement and were to be used during landings on the English coast. The immersion depth was 15 m; fresh air was supplied by a hose 18 m long and 20 cm in diameter. In the spring of 1941, experiments were continued with a 3.5-m pipe - a “snorkel”. From the Pz.III and Pz.IV underwater tanks and the Pz.II amphibious tanks, the 18th tank regiment was formed, deployed in 1941 into a brigade, and then into the 18th tank division. Part of the Tauchpanzer III vehicles entered service with the 6th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Tank Division. These units were trained at the Milovitsy training ground in the protectorate of the Czech Republic and Moravia.

Since July 1944, Pz.III was also used as an ARV. At the same time, a square cabin was installed in place of the tower. In addition, small batches of vehicles for the transport of ammunition and engineering were produced. There were prototypes of a minesweeper tank and options for converting it into a railcar.

Pz.III Ausf.J during unloading from the railway platform. Eastern Front, 1942. On the right wing of the vehicle is the tactical badge of the 24th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht.

It should be noted that a significant number of tank turrets released as a result of re-equipment were installed as firing points at various fortifications, in particular on the Atlantic Wall and in Italy on the Ready Line. In 1944 alone, 110 towers were used for these purposes.

The production of Pz.III was discontinued in 1943, after the production of about 6 thousand tanks. In the future, only the production of self-propelled guns based on it continued.

Pz.III Ausf.N during testing at the NIBTPolygon in Kubinka near Moscow. 1946

It must be said that all German tanks created in the prewar years had a rather monotonous fate. Like the Pz.IV, the first "troikas" formally entered the army in 1938. But by no means in combat units! New vehicles were concentrated in the Panzerwaffe training centers, staffed by the most experienced tank instructors. During the whole of 1938, in essence, military tests took place, during which it became clear, in particular, the unreliability and futility of the chassis of the first modifications.

A number of foreign and domestic sources indicate the participation of Pz.III in the Anschluss of Austria in March and the occupation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia in October 1938. However, their presence in the units of the 1st and 2nd Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions participating in these operations is not confirmed by German sources. It is possible that the Pz.III tanks were brought there a little later in order to demonstrate German military power. In any case, the first 10 Pz.III tanks were transferred to combat units in the spring of 1939 and could only really participate in the occupation of the Czech Republic and Moravia in March of this year.

The total order for tanks of this type was 2538 units, of which 244 were to be produced in 1939. However, the Armaments Service was only able to accept 24 vehicles. As a result, on September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht had only 98 of the 120 Pz.IIIs produced by that time and 20-25 command tanks based on it. Only 69 vehicles took direct part in the hostilities against Poland. Most of them were concentrated in the 6th training tank battalion (6 Panzer Lehr Battalion), attached to the 3rd tank division, which was part of the XIX tank corps of General G. Guderian. There were also several vehicles in the 1st Panzer Division.

Unfortunately, there is no information about combat encounters between the Pz.III and Polish tanks. We can only say that the "troika" had better armor protection and maneuverability than the most powerful Polish tank 7TP. Different sources give different numbers of German losses: according to one, they amounted to only 8 Pz.III, according to others, 40 tanks failed, and irretrievable losses amounted to 26 units!

By the beginning of active hostilities in the West - May 10, 1940 - the Panzerwaffe already had 381 Pz.III tanks and 60-70 command tanks. True, only 349 vehicles of this type were in immediate readiness for combat operations.

After the Polish campaign, the Germans brought the number of tank divisions to ten, and although not all of them had a standard structure with two tank regiments, it was not possible to fully equip them with a regular number of all types of tanks. However, the "old" five tank divisions did not differ much from the "new" ones in this regard. A tank regiment was supposed to have 54 Pz.III and Pz.Bg.Wg.III tanks. It is easy to calculate that in ten tank regiments of five divisions there should have been 540 Pz.III. However, this number of tanks was not just physically. Guderian complains about this: "The re-equipment of tank regiments with tanks of the T-III and T-IV types, which was especially important and necessary, progressed extremely slowly due to the weak production capacity of the industry, as well as as a result of the mothballing of new types of tanks by the high command of the ground forces." The first reason expressed by the general is indisputable, the second is highly doubtful. The presence of tanks in the troops was quite consistent with the number of vehicles produced by May 1940.

Be that as it may, the Germans had to concentrate scarce medium and heavy tanks in formations operating in the directions of the main attacks. So, in the 1st tank division of the Guderian corps, there were 62 tanks Pz.III and 15 Pz.Bf.Wg.III. The 2nd Panzer Division had 54 Pz.IIIs. Other divisions had a smaller number of combat vehicles of this type.

Pz.III turned out to be quite suitable for fighting French light tanks of all types. Things were much worse when meeting with medium D2 and S35 and heavy B1bis. The German 37 mm guns did not penetrate their armor. Guderian himself took personal impressions from this situation. Here is what he writes, recalling the battle with French tanks south of Juniville on June 10, 1940: “During a tank battle, I tried in vain to knock out the French B tank (B1bis. -) with the fire of a French captured 47-mm anti-tank gun. Note. ed.); all the shells bounced off the thick armored walls without causing any harm to the tank. Our 37- and 20-mm guns were also not effective against this machine. So we had to bear the losses." As for losses, the Panzerwaffe lost 135 Pz.III tanks in France.

Pz.III Ausf.N, shot down by Soviet artillery in the Sinyavino area. Winter 1943.

Like other types of German tanks, "troikas" took part in the operation in the Balkans in the spring of 1941. In this theater, the main danger for German tanks was not the few Yugoslav and Greek tanks and anti-tank guns, but mountainous, sometimes unpaved roads and bad bridges. Serious clashes, which led to losses, albeit insignificant, occurred between the Germans and the British troops who arrived in Greece in March 1941. The largest battle took place when the Germans broke through the "Metaxas Line" in northern Greece, not far from the city of Ptolemais. Tanks of the 9th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht attacked the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment here. The British A10 cruiser tanks were powerless against the Pz.III, especially the H modification, which had 60 mm frontal armor and 50 mm guns. The situation was saved by the Royal Horse Artillery - 15 German tanks, including several Pz.IIIs, were hit by fire from 25-pounder guns. However, this did not affect the development of events as a whole: on April 28, the personnel of the regiment, leaving all the tanks, left Greece.

Pz.III Ausf.J, shot down in the summer of 1941. The Soviet shell literally broke through the frontal armor of the tower.

In the spring of 1941, the "troikas" had to master another theater of operations - the North African. On March 11, units of the 5th light division of the Wehrmacht began to unload in Tripoli, numbering up to 80 Pz.III. Basically, these were G modification machines in tropical design (trop) with reinforced air filters and a cooling system. A couple of months later they were joined by combat vehicles of the 15th Panzer Division. At the time of arrival, the Pz.III was superior to any English tank in Africa, with the exception of the Matilda.

The first major battle in the Libyan desert with the participation of Pz.III was the attack by the forces of the 5th tank regiment of the 5th light division of the British positions near Tobruk on April 30, 1941. The offensive, undertaken by the German tankers after a long aviation training, turned out to be inconclusive. Particularly heavy losses were suffered by the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Regiment. Suffice it to say that 24 Pz.IIIs alone were shot down. True, all the tanks were evacuated from the battlefield and 14 vehicles soon returned to service. It must be said that the commander of the German African Corps, General Rommel, quickly drew conclusions from such failures, and in the future the Germans did not undertake frontal attacks, preferring the tactics of flank strikes and coverage. This was all the more important because by the end of the autumn of 1941, neither the Pz.III nor the Pz.IV had such a decisive superiority over most British tanks as in the spring. During Operation Crusader, for example, in November 1941, the British advanced with 748 tanks, including 213 Matildas and Valentines, 220 Crusaders, 150 older cruiser tanks and 165 American Stuarts. production. The African Corps could only oppose them with 249 German (of which 139 Pz.III) and 146 Italian tanks. At the same time, the armament and armor protection of most British combat vehicles were similar, and sometimes surpassed the German ones. As a result of two-month battles, British troops missed 278 tanks. The losses of the Italo-German troops were comparable - 292 tanks.

The English 8th Army pushed the enemy back almost 800 km and captured the whole of Cyrenaica. But she could not solve her main task - to destroy the forces of Rommel. On January 5, 1942, a convoy arrived in Tripoli, delivering 117 German (mostly Pz.III Ausf.J with a 50-mm cannon in 42 calibers) and 79 Italian tanks. Having received this reinforcement, Rommel went on a decisive offensive on January 21. In two days, the Germans advanced 120–130 km east, while the British were rapidly retreating.

Command tank Pz.Bf.Wg.III Ausf.Dl. Poland, September 1939.

The question is natural: if the Germans had neither quantitative nor qualitative superiority over the enemy, then how can their successes be explained? Here is the answer to this question given in his memoirs by Major General von Mellenthin (at that time he served with the rank of major in Rommel's headquarters): “In my opinion, our victories were determined by three factors: the qualitative superiority of our anti-tank guns, the systematic application of the principle of interaction military branches and - last but not least - our tactical methods. While the British limited the role of their 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns (very powerful guns) to fighting aircraft, we used our 88-mm guns to shoot both tanks and aircraft. In November 1941, we had only thirty-five 88 mm guns, but moving along with our tanks, these guns inflicted huge losses on the British tanks. In addition, our 50-mm anti-tank guns with a high muzzle velocity were significantly superior to the British two-pounder guns, and batteries of these guns always accompanied our tanks in battle. Our field artillery was also trained to interact with tanks. In short, the German Panzer Division was an extremely flexible formation of all branches of the armed forces, always, both in the offensive and in defense, relying on artillery. The British, on the other hand, considered anti-tank guns to be a defensive weapon and failed to properly use their powerful field artillery, which should have been trained to destroy our anti-tank guns.

Everything that von Mellenthin said, especially regarding the interaction of all types of troops with tanks, was also characteristic of another theater of operations - the Eastern Front, which became the most important for the Pz.III, as, indeed, for all other German tanks.

The command tank Pz.Bf.Wg.III Ausf.E and the command and staff armored personnel carrier Sd.Kfz.251 / 3 of the headquarters of the 9th Panzer Division. Eastern Front, 1941.

As of June 1, 1941, the Wehrmacht had 235 Pz.III tanks with 37 mm guns (another 81 vehicles were under repair). There were significantly more tanks with 50 mm guns - 1090! Another 23 vehicles were under re-equipment. During June, the industry was expected to receive another 133 combat vehicles. Of this number, 965 Pz.III tanks were intended directly for the invasion of the Soviet Union, which were distributed more or less evenly among 16 German tank divisions out of 19 participating in the Barbarossa operation (6th, 7th and 8th tank divisions were armed with Czechoslovak-made tanks). So, for example, in the 1st Panzer Division there were 73 Pz.III and 5 command Pz.Bf.Wg.III, in the 4th Panzer Division there were 105 combat vehicles of this type. Moreover, the vast majority of tanks were armed with 50-mm L / 42 cannons.

Since the landing on the shores of foggy Albion did not take place, Tauchpanzer III underwater tanks were also transferred to the east. In the first hours of Operation Barbarossa, these tanks, which were part of the 18th Panzer Division, crossed the Western Bug along the bottom. This is how the German historian Paul Karel describes this extraordinary event for those years: “At 03.15, in the sector of the 18th Panzer Division, 50 batteries of all calibers opened fire to ensure the crossing of the river by underwater tanks. The division commander, General Nering, described the operation as a magnificent spectacle, at the same time rather pointless, since the Russians were smart enough to withdraw their troops from the border areas, leaving only a few units of border guards who fought bravely.

At 0445, non-commissioned officer Virshin plunged into the Bug on tank No. 1. The infantrymen watched what was happening with amazement. The water closed over the roof of the tank turret.

“Tankers give in! They play submariners!

Where Virshina's tank was now could be determined by the thin metal pipe sticking out of the river and by the bubbles from the exhaust on the surface, which were carried away by the current.

So, tank after tank, the 1st battalion of the 18th tank regiment, led by the battalion commander Manfred Count Strachwitz, disappeared at the bottom of the river. And then the first of the outlandish "amphibians" crawled out onto the shore. A soft pop, and the barrel of the gun was freed from the rubber plug. The loader lowered the motorcycle camera around the turret. The same was done in other machines. Tower hatches swung open, from which the "captains" appeared. The battalion commander's hand flew up three times, which meant "Tanks, forward!". 80 tanks crossed the river under water. 80 tanks rushed into battle. The appearance of armored vehicles on the coastal bridgehead came in handy, as enemy reconnaissance armored vehicles were approaching. Immediately the advanced tanks received an order:

“Towers for one hour, load with armor-piercing, range 800 meters, on a group of enemy armored vehicles, rapid fire!”

Panzerbeobachtungswagen III advanced artillery observer vehicle. 20th Panzer Division. Eastern front, summer 1943.

The muzzles of the amphibian cannons belched fire. Several armored vehicles caught fire. The rest hastily retreated. The tank fist of the Army Group "Center" rushed in the direction of Minsk and Smolensk.

In the future, there were no such episodes of forcing water barriers, and the Pz.III of the underwater passage was used as ordinary tanks.

I must say that the “troikas” as a whole were an equal opponent of most Soviet tanks, surpassing them in some ways, but inferior in some ways. In terms of three main evaluation parameters - armament, maneuverability and armor protection - the Pz.III was significantly superior only to the T-26. Over the BT-7, the German vehicle had an advantage in armor protection, over the T-28 and KB - in maneuverability. In all three parameters, the "troika" was second only to the T-34. At the same time, the Pz.III had an undeniable superiority over all Soviet tanks in the quantity and quality of observation devices, the quality of sights, the reliability of the engine, transmission and chassis. An important advantage was the 100% division of labor of the crew members, which most Soviet tanks could not boast of. The latter circumstances, in the absence of a pronounced superiority in performance characteristics as a whole, allowed the Pz.III in most cases to emerge victorious from tank duels. However, when meeting with the T-34, and even more so with the KB, it was very difficult to achieve this - good or bad optics, but the German 50-mm gun could only penetrate their armor from a very short distance - no more than 300 m. It is no coincidence that that for the period from June 1941 to September 1942, only 7.5% of the total number of T-34 tanks destroyed by artillery became victims of the fire of these guns. At the same time, the main burden of the fight against Soviet medium tanks "fell on the shoulders" of anti-tank artillery - 54.3% of T-34 tanks were hit by fire from 50-mm Pak 38 anti-tank guns during the indicated period. The fact is that the anti-tank gun was more powerful than the tank gun, its barrel had a length of 56.6 calibers, and the initial velocity of the armor-piercing projectile was 835 m/s. And she had more chances to meet a Soviet tank.

After the turret was dismantled, some of the tanks were converted into Munitionsschlepper III ammunition carriers.

From the foregoing, it follows that the most massive Wehrmacht tank at that time, the Pz.III, which also had the greatest anti-tank capabilities, was in most cases absolutely powerless against the Soviet T-34s and KVs in 1941. If we take into account the lack of quantitative superiority, it becomes clear how, perhaps without knowing or understanding it, Hitler bluffed when attacking the USSR. In any case, on August 4, 1941, at a meeting at the headquarters of Army Group Center, he said to General G. Guderian: “If I knew that the Russians really had such a number of tanks that were given in your book, I would probably did not start this war. (In his book Attention, Tanks!, published in 1937, G. Guderian indicated that at that time there were 10,000 tanks in the USSR, but this figure was objected to by the chief of the general staff, Beck, and censorship. - Note. ed.)

However, back to the Pz.III. In six months of 1941, 660 tanks of this type were irretrievably lost, and in the first two months of 1942, another 338. With the then existing rate of production of armored vehicles in Germany, it was not possible to quickly make up for these losses. Therefore, in the tank divisions of the Wehrmacht, a chronic shortage of combat vehicles was constantly maintained.

Throughout 1942, Pz.III remained the main striking force of the Panzerwaffe, including during large-scale offensive operations on the southern flank of the Eastern Front. On August 23, 1942, Pz.III Ausf.J from the 14th Panzer Corps were the first to reach the Volga north of Stalingrad. During the battle of Stalingrad and the battle for the Caucasus, Pz.III suffered the most severe losses. Moreover, "troikas" armed with both types of guns - in 42 and 60 calibers participated in these battles. The use of a long-barreled 50-mm cannon made it possible to push the distance of a firefight, for example, with the T-34, to almost 500 m. In combination with the rather powerful armor protection of the frontal projection of the Pz.III, the chances of both tanks winning were largely equalized. True, the German vehicle could achieve success in battle at such a distance only when using PzGr 40 sub-caliber shells.

In May 1942, the first 19 Ausf.J tanks with 50 mm L/60 guns arrived in North Africa. In English documents, these machines appear as the Panzer III Special. On the eve of the battle at El-Ghazala, Rommel had only 332 tanks, 223 of them were “troikas”. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the American Grant I tanks that appeared at the front were practically invulnerable to the guns of German tanks. The exceptions were Pz.III Ausf.J and Pz.IV Ausf.F2 with long-barreled guns, but Rommel had only 23 of these vehicles. Nevertheless, despite the numerical superiority of the British troops, the Germans again went on the offensive, and by June 11 the entire advanced line of strongholds from El Gazala to Bir Hakeim was in their hands. For several days of fighting, the British army lost 550 tanks and 200 guns, the British units began a disorderly retreat to the rear defensive position in Egyptian territory near El Alamein.

Pz.III Ausf.F of the 7th Tank Regiment of the 10th Tank Division. France, May 1940.

Heavy fighting on this line began at the end of August 1942. On the eve of the offensive that Rommel launched at this time, the Afrika Korps had 74 Panzer III Specials. During unsuccessful offensive battles, the Germans suffered heavy losses in equipment, which they could not make up for. By the end of October, only 81 combat-ready tanks remained in the German troops. On October 23, 1029 tanks of General Montgomery's 8th Army went on the offensive. By November 3, the resistance of the German and Italian troops was broken, and they began a rapid retreat, abandoning all heavy equipment. In the 15th Panzer Division, for example, by November 10, there were 1,177 personnel left, 16 guns (of which four were 88 mm) and not a single tank. Leaving Libya, Rommel's army, which received replenishment, in January 1943 was able to stop the British on the border of Tunisia, on the Maret line.

In 1943, a number of Pz.III tanks, mainly L and N modifications, took part in the final battles of the African campaign. In particular, the Ausf.L tanks of the 15th Panzer Division participated in the defeat of American troops in the Kasserine Pass on February 14, 1943. Ausf.N tanks were part of the 501st heavy tank battalion. Their task was to protect the positions of the "tigers" from attacks by enemy infantry. After the surrender of German troops in North Africa on May 12, 1943, all these tanks became Allied trophies.

The main theater of combat use of the Pz.III in 1943 remained the Eastern Front. True, by the middle of the year the Pz.IV with long-barreled 75-mm guns had shifted to the main burden of the fight against Soviet tanks, and the “troikas” increasingly played a supporting role in tank attacks. Nevertheless, they still made up about half of the Wehrmacht's tank fleet on the Eastern Front. By the summer of 1943, the staff of the German tank division included a two-battalion tank regiment. In the first battalion, one company was armed with "triples", in the second - two. In total, the division was supposed to have 66 linear tanks of this type.

The “farewell tour” of the Pz.III was Operation Citadel. The table gives an idea of ​​the presence of Pz.III tanks of various modifications in the tank and motorized divisions of the Wehrmacht and SS troops at the beginning of Operation Citadel.

In addition to these tanks, there were 56 more vehicles in the 502nd and 505th heavy tank battalions, the 656th tank destroyer division and other units. According to German data, during July and August 1943, 385 triples were lost. In total, losses during the year amounted to 2719 Pz.III units, of which 178 were returned to service after repairs.

By the end of 1943, due to the cessation of production, the number of Pz.IIIs in the units of the first line was sharply reduced. A significant number of tanks of this type were transferred to various training and reserve units. They also served in secondary theaters of operations, for example, in the Balkans or in Italy. By November 1944, a little more than 200 Pz.III remained in the combat units of the first line: on the Eastern Front - 133, in the West - 35 and in Italy - 49.

As of March 1945, the following number of tanks remained in the troops:

Pz.III L/42 - 216

Pz.III L/60 - 113

Pz.III L/24 – 205

Pz.Beob.Wg.III - 70

Pz.Bf.Wg.IIl - 4

Berge-Pz.III - 130.

Of the line tanks and advanced artillery observer vehicles, 328 units were in the Reserve Army, 105 were used as training ones, and 164 vehicles located in the front units were distributed as follows:

Eastern Front - 16

Western front -

Italy - 58

Denmark/Norway - 90.

The German statistics of the last year of the war ends on April 28, and the numbers of the presence of Pz.III in the troops on this date are almost the same as those given above, which indicates the practical non-participation of the “triples” in the battles of the last days of the war. According to German data, from September 1, 1939 to April 10, 1945, the irretrievable losses of Pz.III tanks amounted to 4706 units.

A few words about the export deliveries of Pz.III, which were very insignificant. In September 1942, Hungary received 10 tanks of the M modification. Another 10-12 vehicles were handed over to the Hungarians in 1944. At the end of 1942, 11 Ausf.N vehicles were delivered to Romania. They were in service with the 1st Romanian Panzer Division "Great Romania" (Romania Mage). In 1943, 10 of these tanks were ordered by Bulgaria, but in the end the Germans delivered Pz.38(t) to it. Slovakia received 7 Ausf.Ns in 1943. Several machines of modifications N and L were in service with the Croatian troops. Turkey planned to purchase 56 L and M variants, but these plans could not be realized. Thus, no more than 50 Pz.III arrived in the armies of the states allied with Germany.

In battles with the Red Army, the Hungarian army most actively used these tanks.

A certain number of captured Pz.IIIs were also used by the Red Army, mainly in 1942-1943. On the chassis of captured tanks, about 200 SU-76I self-propelled artillery mounts were manufactured, which were used in battles with German troops until the end of 1943.

In 1967, in his book Designs and Development of Combat Vehicles, the British tank theorist Richard Ogorkevich outlined a curious theory of the existence of an intermediate class of "light-medium" tanks. In his opinion, the first machine in this class was the Soviet T-26, armed with a 45-mm cannon. In addition, Ogorkevich included the Czechoslovak LT-35 and LT-38 vehicles, the Swedish La-10, the English "cruisers" from Mk I to Mk IV, Soviet tanks of the BT family and, finally, the German Pz.III into this category.

One of 135 Pz.IIIs shot down during the French campaign. Judging by the image of a bison on the side of the turret, this Pz.III Ausf.E belongs to the 7th Panzer Regiment of the 10th Panzer Division. May 1940.

I must say that there is a certain sense in Ogorkevich's theory. Indeed, the performance characteristics of all these combat vehicles are quite close to each other. This is all the more important since these tanks have become adversaries on the battlefield. True, by 1939 their performance characteristics had changed a little, mainly in the direction of strengthening the armor, but the main thing was preserved - all these combat vehicles, to a greater or lesser extent, were a kind of overgrown light tanks. They seemed to have stepped over the upper bar of the light class, but they did not reach the full-fledged middle class.

Nevertheless, in the 1930s, due to the successful combination of the main parameters of armament and mobility, "light-medium" tanks were considered universal, equally capable of both supporting infantry and performing the functions of cavalry.

Pz.III Ausf.G from the 6th company of the 5th tank regiment in battle. North Africa. 1941

However, infantry escort required movement at the speed of an infantryman, and such vehicles, which had relatively weak armor protection, became easy prey for anti-tank artillery, which was clearly demonstrated in Spain. The second function, which was confirmed already at the very beginning of the Second World War, they also could not perform on their own, they had to be supported or eventually replaced by tanks with more powerful weapons, for example, with a 75-mm cannon, capable of not only hitting enemy vehicles, but also to conduct effective fire with high-explosive fragmentation shells.

The journey to the East has begun! A Pz.III unit of the 11th Panzer Division is advancing deep into Soviet territory. In the background is a burning BT-7. 1941

However, the need to combine "light-medium" tanks with tanks armed with a 75-mm gun came already in the mid-1930s. They only solved this problem in different ways: the British installed parts of their cruiser tanks with 76-mm howitzers instead of 2-pounder guns in the standard turrets, several hundred BT-7A artillery tanks with a 76-mm gun in an enlarged turret were fired in the USSR, while the Germans went along the most cardinal and least simple way to create two tanks.

Indeed, in 1934, four German firms received an order to develop two different tanks under the mottos ZW ("company commander's vehicle") and BW ("battalion commander's vehicle"). It goes without saying that these were only nominal mottos. The specifications for these machines were close. Base weight, for example, 15 and 18 tons, respectively. Significant differences were only in armament: one car had to carry a 37-mm gun, the other - a 75-mm gun. The closeness of the terms of reference eventually led to the creation of two vehicles that were almost identical in weight, dimensions and armor, but differed in armament and completely different in design - Pz.III and Pz.IV. At the same time, the layout of the second was clearly more successful. The lower part of the hull of the Pz.IV is narrower than that of the Pz.III, but the Krupp linkers, having expanded the turret box to the middle of the fenders, brought the clear diameter of the turret ring to 1680 mm versus 1520 mm for the Pz.III. In addition, due to the more compact and rational layout of the engine compartment, the Pz.IV has a noticeably larger control compartment. The result is obvious: the Pz.III has no landing hatches for the driver and gunner-radio operator. What this can lead to if it is necessary to urgently leave a wrecked tank is clear without explanation. In general, with almost the same overall dimensions, the armored volume of the Pz.III was less than that of the Pz.IV.

Pz.III Ausf.J, shot down by the tank unit of the guards of Colonel Khasin. Southwestern Front, 1942.

It should be emphasized that both machines were created in parallel, each according to its own terms of reference, and there was no competition between them. It is all the more difficult to explain the appearance of such close terms of reference, and the subsequent adoption of both tanks. It would be much more logical to accept one tank, but with two weapons options. Such a decision would entail significantly less costs in the future. It is quite obvious that, having launched into mass production two tanks that were almost identical in all respects, but differed in armament and different in design, the Germans made a mistake. However, we should not forget that we are talking about the years 1934-1937, when it was difficult to guess the path that tank building would take.

Tanks Pz.III Ausf.L in Tunisia. December 1942.

In its own category of "light-medium" tanks, the Pz.III turned out to be the most modern, having inherited the shortcomings characteristic of light tanks to the least extent. After its armor and armament were strengthened, and the mass exceeded 20 tons, which was practically done by the “troika” of a medium tank, the superiority over the former “colleagues” increased even more. It was multiplied many times over by the superiority in tactical methods of using tank units and formations. As a result, the German command in the first two years of the war did not have much reason to worry about the combat qualities of the Pz.III.

Overturned as a result of unsuccessful maneuvering Pz.III Ausf.M from the SS motorized division "Reich". Kursk Bulge, 1943.

The situation completely changed in 1941, when the Germans faced the T-34 on the Eastern Front, and the Grant in Africa. Pz.III also had certain advantages over them. In particular, the T-34 was superior in terms of the number and quality of observation and aiming devices, the convenience of the crew, ease of control and technical reliability. The "Grant" was all right with surveillance devices and reliability, but in design and layout it was inferior to the "troika". However, all these advantages were negated by the main thing: both of these vehicles were designed as part of the promising concept of a "universal" tank, designed to replace both "light-medium" and support tanks. In the USSR, the understanding of the need for such a replacement came as a result of a long path of evolution of "light-medium" tanks. There was no evolution at all in the USA, but the Americans made quick and, most importantly, correct conclusions from someone else's experience. And what about the Germans? Apparently, by the middle of 1941, they fully realized the seriousness of the mistake they had made. On September 6, 1941, a report was presented to Hitler, which substantiated the benefits of the "unification" of Pz.III and Pz.IV. The case was set in motion, and several firms were tasked with developing various options for the Panzerkampfwagen III und IV n.A. (n.A. neue Ausfuhrung - new version).

Pz.III Ausf.N, shot down during Operation Citadel. Judging by the emblems, this vehicle is from the 3rd Tank Regiment of the 2nd Tank Division of the Wehrmacht. Oryol direction, August 1943.

The Krupp firm built two prototypes, which were Pz.III with a new undercarriage intended for Pz.III / IV. The road wheels were staggered, the suspension was torsion bar. Both machines have been tested for a long time at various test sites. Other suspension and chassis options were also worked out. Design and testing led at the beginning of 1942 to the creation of a unified chassis Geschutzwagen III / IV (“gun chassis”), in which road wheels, suspension, support rollers, guide wheels and tracks were borrowed from the Pz.IV Ausf.F tank, and the driving wheels, engine and gearbox - for Pz.III Ausf.J. But the idea of ​​a "single" tank never came to fruition. This project was abandoned in March of 1942, after the Pz.IV Ausf.F was equipped with a 75 mm cannon with a barrel length of 43 calibers, turning the support tank into a "universal" one overnight and without hassle.

It was impossible to apply such a solution to the Pz.III. An indispensable condition for the creation of a "universal" tank was the presence of a long-barreled gun with a caliber of at least 75 mm, which could not be installed in the Pz.III turret without significant alterations in the design of the tank. And with a 50-mm gun, even a 60-caliber gun, the "troika" remained the same "light-medium" tank. But she didn’t have any “colleagues” - opponents. The removal of the Pz.III from production in the summer of 1943 was the only and, I must say, belated release.

As a result, the "universal" "four" was in mass production until the end of the war, the Geschutzwagen III / IV chassis was actively used to create various self-propelled guns ... But what about the "troika"? Alas, the mistake made by the customer when choosing the type of tank devalued the work of designers and manufacturers. In the tank "palette" of the Panzerwaffe, the "troika" turned out to be superfluous.

In 1935, the directorate of armaments, following Guderian's concept of mat. parts of tank divisions, gave a number of companies a task for a medium tank weighing 15 tons. The project presented by Daimler-Benz turned out to be the best. It was for this company that the right of the head developer of the machine was assigned. In the period from 1937 to 1938, the company produced small batches of experimental tanks of modifications A, B, C and D. All vehicles of this series had an armor thickness of only 14.5 millimeters. In 1938, with the release of modification E, real mass production began. The maximum speed of the machine, which had a combat weight of 19500 kg, was 40 km / h. The crew of the combat vehicle included 5 people (driver, commander, gunner-radio operator, gunner and loader). The layout of the Pz Kpfw III was traditional for German tank building - there was a power compartment in the stern, a combined control compartment and transmission compartment in the bow, a fighting compartment in the turret and in the middle of the hull. The front wheels were driving. The turret and hull are welded, made of chromium-nickel armor steel sheets with surface hardening. The armor of the turret and hull was the same - 30 millimeters.

The armament included a tank semi-automatic cannon of 37 mm caliber and three machine guns (two in the turret and frontal).

A. Hitler, after the French campaign, demanded to re-equip the Pz Kpfw III with a 50-mm long-barreled gun L / 60 (this designation is the length of the barrel in klb.). The reason for this decision was the appearance of the British tanks "Matilda" with thick armor. However, the Ordnance Department took a different decision and preferred a gun with a length of 42 calibers and a low muzzle velocity. The Pz Kpfw III tanks of modifications E, F, G were equipped with a cannon. It was with these machines that the German army began the war with the USSR. Subsequently, the armaments control initiative cost the tank units very dearly - a 50-mm cannon projectile could hardly penetrate the armor of the Soviet T-34s and KBs.

On modification H, which appeared in 1940, due to screens, the thickness of the armor of the stern and frontal parts of the hull was increased to 60 millimeters. The combat weight increased to 21,800 kg required wide tracks in order to maintain a sufficiently high ground pressure at the same level.

German tankers on PzKpfw III in North Africa

Unloading of German equipment in the port of Tripoli. In the foreground is a PzKpfw III Ausf G tank.

German tank PzKpfw III Ausf. L on the flatbed trailer, which was most often used with the 18 ton FAMO half-track tractor

Modification J tanks (created in the second half of 1941) were finally equipped with a long-barreled gun, which A. Hitler spoke about. An armor-piercing projectile at a distance of 500 meters pierced an armor plate 75 mm thick, and a sub-caliber projectile - 115 mm. The mass of the tank was 21500 kg.

From July 1942, serial production of the L modification began, from October - the M modification, which was distinguished by enhanced armor protection of the frontal part of the hull. The total thickness of armor plates and 20 mm screens reached 70 mm.

The latest modification N was armed with the same short-barreled 75 mm gun, which had previously been installed on the Pz Kpfw IV tank. This modification should be attributed to assault, and not to linear tanks. Between 1942 and 1943, 660 tanks were built.

In total, twelve modifications of the Pz Kpfw III were produced in the amount of 5691 units. In addition, 220 command vehicles without cannon armament were built, 50 with long-barreled and 81 with short-barreled guns. In 1943 they produced 100 Pz Kpfw III Flamm - flame throwers. From February 43rd to April 44th - 262 artillery observation tanks Sd Kfz 143 (Pz Beob Wg III). There are 150 tanks in the repair and evacuation redistribution.

From a technical point of view, this medium tank was an interesting vehicle. Many innovations were applied to the Pz Kpfw III: road wheels had a torsion bar suspension, control was carried out using planetary turning mechanisms and servos, and so on.

On the other hand, the "troika" was distinguished by low cross-country ability and insufficient mobility. Attempts to modernize did not bring significant results, except for a partial increase in armor and reinforcement of weapons. The motor group was never revised, and therefore, with an increase in mass, the specific power decreased.

The Germans, with all their desire, could not equalize the combat qualities of the Pz Kpfw III with the T-34, mainly due to the lack of design reserves. The production of these tanks ceased in August 1943. The freed up factory capacities were used to produce assault guns based on the vehicles database.

Combat and technical characteristics of medium tanks Pz Kpfw III (Ausf E / Ausf G / Ausf M / Ausf N):
Year of issue - 1938/1940/1942/1942;
Combat weight - 19500/20300/22700/23000 kg;
Crew - 5 people;
Body length - 5380/5410/5410/5650 mm;
Length with gun forward - 5380/5410/6410/5650 mm;
Width - 2910/2950/2950/2950 mm;
Height - 2440/2442/2500/2500 mm;
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the hull (angle of inclination to the vertical) - 30 mm (21 degrees) / 30 mm (21 degrees) / 50 mm (21 degrees) / 50 mm (21 degrees) ;
The thickness of the armor plates on the sides of the hull is 30 mm (the angle of inclination to the vertical is 0 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the tower is 30/30/57/57 mm (the angle of inclination to the vertical is 15 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the roof and bottom of the hull - 17 and 16/18 and 16/18 and 16/18 and 16;
Gun brand - KwK / KwK38 / KwK39 / KwK37;
Gun caliber - 37/50/50/75 mm;
Barrel length - 46.5/42/60/24 klb.;
Ammunition, shots - 131/99/92/64 pieces;
The number of machine guns - 3/3/2/2;
Machine gun caliber - 7.92 mm;
Ammunition, cartridges - 4500/2700/3750/3750 pieces;
Engine type and brand - Maybach HL120TR / Maybach HL120TRM / Maybach HL120TRM / Maybach HL120TRM;
Engine power - 300 liters. With.;
Maximum speed on the highway - 40, km / h;
Fuel supply - 320/320/318/318 l;
Power reserve on the highway - 165/165/155/155 km;
The average ground pressure is 0.95/0.93/0.94/0.94 kg/cm2.

German tank PzKpfw III and its crew

German medium tank PzKpfw III Ausf.J. This modification had a lightened hull, and the thickness of the frontal armor was increased to 50 mm.

Approved as a memo on the use of a German combat vehicle - a medium tank T-III, designed for the rank and file and commanding staff of all branches of the Red Army and benefits for partisans and sabotage units operating in the territory occupied by the enemy. This document has been compiled for the preparation and publication of a manual on the use of captured tanks after they have been captured by the Red Army.

From IKTP - /Romanov/

Warrior of the Red Army!

Perfectly master the trophy technique!

In the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland, the fighters and commanders of the Red Army capture various types of military equipment of Nazi Germany and its allies. Despite the unfamiliar design, in some parts of the Red Army, tankers are able to deal with enemy equipment and successfully use it in battles with Nazi troops. However, in many formations, the study of enemy equipment is not given due attention, which is unacceptable.

Each soldier of the Red Army must know all the features and military equipment of the enemy in order to skillfully apply in the defense of our Motherland - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The German medium tank T-III is the most advanced type of tank of the Nazi army. It has the following distinctive features:

1. High speed traffic on and off the roads.

2. Excellent running smoothness.

3. Simple and reliable motor capable of consuming gasoline. However, for best results, aviation gasoline or other first-class gasoline should be used.

4. The small size of an artillery shot and the possibility of firing an electric discharge device, which significantly increases the speed and accuracy of fire.

5. Convenient location of evacuation hatches, allowing for quick evacuation in the event of a tank fire.

6. Good observation devices that provide all-round visibility from the tank.

7. Good tank radio equipment.

8. Ease of operation by untrained personnel.

Tankers Osipov and Gareev are mastering a captured tank. July 1941

Captured tank PiKpfw III Aust H on trial* in Kubinka. Summer 1941

Captured tank PzKpfw III Ausf J. Kubinka, 1943

The total weight of the average German T-III tank is 19-21 tons, the engine is a 12-cylinder petrol type "Maybach" with water cooling. Maximum engine power 320 hp Fuel tank capacity - 300 l. The mouths of the gas tank and the cooling radiator are located in the engine compartment to the right along the course of the tank. Access to the fuel tank and radiator fillers is through the right hatch in the roof of the engine compartment.

Currently, the T-III tank is armed with a 50-mm tank gun, the main characteristics of which are slightly higher than the domestic 45-mm tank gun mod. 1938, which significantly increases its combat capabilities compared to a tank of this type of previous releases with armament from a 37-mm tank gun of tanks.

In addition, many T-III tanks with a 50 mm cannon have reinforced frontal armor thickness of the turret box and turret (up to 52-55 mm in total), which makes them impenetrable to armor-piercing shells of a 45 mm anti-tank gun at a distance of more than 400 m. These tanks are usually equipped with equipment to overcome deep fords and water obstacles up to 5 m deep. The mass of such tanks is 22-22.5 tons.

All known cases of the use of captured medium tanks T-III in the units of the Red Army confirm the high combat characteristics of this type of tank.

The good armor protection of the T-III medium tank, the high smoothness of its movement, the large number and high quality of observation devices make it possible to recommend the use of this type of tank, especially as a vehicle for the commander of a tank unit or a tank for reconnaissance of the close rear of the Nazi troops.

German tank PzKpfw III Ausf H, captured by Soviet soldiers. July 1941

PzKpfw lII Ausf J as a T-60 tank company commander's vehicle. Winter 1942

When conducting reconnaissance and / or sabotage operations, it is best to overcome the contact line of troops in the evening, since at this time the German trenches are mostly not completely filled and the often passing German tank does not arouse much curiosity and is not checked by German infantrymen, while in the afternoon this much more difficult to avoid. When fighting on captured tanks in the depths of the enemy’s defenses in the evening, it is not recommended to open your own lighting and fire from a machine gun, since lighting and machine gun fire can give the enemy the location of your tank.

The most successful are the actions of captured tanks in the enemy's position in groups of 2 pieces.

Being captured during the fighting, the tank is subject to repair mostly in the field and with the involvement of a minimum amount of materials and equipment. Tank units are highly reliable and can be operated even by an unskilled driver. A repair manual for the T-III tank is being developed.

For drivers familiar with driving trucks, tractors and tanks, the following sequence of starting the tank and starting to move can be recommended.

To start the engine of the T-III tank, you must:

1. Place the front shift lever in the middle position.

2. Open the gas tap by placing its handle in a vertical position, which is located on the engine bulkhead behind the right seat.

3. Press and turn to the right along the course of the tank the mass switch lever, which is located in the engine compartment and is located against the door of the engine bulkhead.

4. Drown the key in the ignition to failure.

5. Press the starter button while lightly pressing the gas pedal with your foot and with your right hand press down the starting jets handle located on the floor to the right of the driver's seat.

6. If the engine does not start from the starter, it is necessary to take the crank mounted on the right wing, open the hatch in the aft (rear) part of the tank, insert the crank into the ratchet of the inertial starter and smoothly turn it counterclockwise for about half a minute.

After that, to start the engine, pull the cable ring located to the left of the ratchet.

To start moving on the T-III tank, you must:

1. Check the position of the brake pedal. The pedal must be in the up (raised) position.

2. Press the clutch pedal with your left foot.

3. Without releasing the clutch pedal, place the front shift lever in the forward (forward) or rear (reverse) position.

4. Put the rear shift lever in the position corresponding to the desired gear.

5. Slowly release the clutch pedal and, pressing the gas pedal at the same time, start moving.

To quickly stop the tank, you must quickly press the clutch pedal and at the same time strongly press the brake pedal.

In terms of control, the tank does not have any features that significantly distinguish it from domestically produced tanks.

To turn the tank to the right or to the left, you need to pull the corresponding vertical turn lever towards you while simultaneously pressing the gas pedal.

To transfer the tank to a higher gear (to speed up the movement), it is necessary to move the rear gearshift lever to the position marked with the largest division of the sector scale, accelerate the tank by pressing the gas pedal, then quickly press and release the clutch pedal,

The transfer of the tank to a lower gear is carried out in a similar way.

To stop the tank, you need to move the rear shift lever to the position corresponding to the lowest gear, then press and quickly release the clutch pedal. Then, making sure that the tank is in low gear, depress the clutch pedal while pressing the brake pedal with your foot, then move the front gearshift lever to the middle position, stopping the motor from engaging the gearbox and release the clutch pedal.

Do not forget to remove the key from the ignition after stopping the tank, which leads to engine shutdown, and then open the mass shift lever, preventing the battery from discharging.

A tank with a 50 mm gun has the same basic control mechanisms as with a 37 mm gun, with the exception of the mass switch, which is located in the engine compartment on the wall to the left along the tank.

To load a 37mm or 50mm cannon you need:

1. The handle of the wedge lock stopper, located on the right side in the upper part of the breech, pull to the right and move forward until the stopper sits in the socket. Then move the bolt handle (located at the bottom, on the right side of the breech) towards you and at the same time press the latch lever located in the bolt handle, after which the bolt will open.

2. Fold the projectile into the tray and push it into the breech, after which the shutter will close itself. The gun is loaded.

Aiming is carried out through an optical sight, fixed to the left of the gun. The horizontal and vertical aiming of the gun is carried out by handwheels, also located to the left of the gun.

To make a shot, it is necessary that the mass is turned on and the engine is running, since the shot is made by an electric discharge device.

To do this, you must perform the following steps:

1. Turn on the electric shutter switch located in front of the turret turn signal.

2. Turn on the plugs in the electric trigger plugs located on the front wall of the tower to the right and left of the gun,

3. Press the red button to the right of the gun, after which the letter “F” will appear in the window next to the button

4. Press the descent lever located on the handle of the gun's horizontal aiming handwheel.

The use of a tank machine gun has no special features compared to the use of an MG-34 infantry machine gun.

If it is impossible to use the captured tank, it must be rendered unusable, since even a slightly damaged tank can be restored and used against the Red Army troops.

Captured PzKpfw Ш Ausf H with paratroopers. Winter 1942

Interior of a PzKpfw III tank turret. Figure from the instruction manual in Russian.

To do this, you must first remove the machine guns from the tank and hide or carry them away, for which you need to do the following:

1. Open the hatch of the tank mask, to do this, press up the handle of the hatch lever, located in front to the right of the machine guns, and force the lever forward to failure.

2. Turn the locking lever of the cover of the detachable casing away from you and fold down the cover of the casing.

3. Turn the locking lever of the cape located behind the casing away from you and fold the cape.

4. Move the latch of the swivel fork to the right, and fold the fork back.

5. Raise the machine gun by the middle part and take it out, giving it back.

To remove the machine gun from the ball mount, it is necessary to turn it counterclockwise by 30-40 ° in order to bring the tide into the longitudinal groove, and then remove the machine gun by moving it back.

Then, with blows of a sledgehammer or scrap, destroy the engine, gearbox and breech of the gun. Access to the engine is through the overhead hatch, and to the gearbox through the control compartment. If the hatches are closed, open them with a large screwdriver or crowbar. The gun can be ruined by pouring a handful of earth into the muzzle, and then firing from it.

If there is fuel in the tank, the tank can be blown up by putting ends, rags or straw soaked in gasoline or oil on the neck of the tank and igniting them. For the complete destruction of the tank, it is possible to strengthen at the junction of the frontal and side armor plates on the inside a charge of 1.5-2 kg tol and blow it up with a fire tube, or with an electric fuse.

But it should be remembered that the competent use of a captured tank will bring a much greater contribution to the approach of victory over the Nazi invaders.

Death to the German invaders!